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CASTROL EDGE RANKINGS ANALYSIS
CASTROL EDGE RANKINGS ANALYSIS RSS Feed
February 15 2010
Messi tops January 2010 Castrol Rankings
Messi has overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo in the Castrol Rankings, but the leading two are coming under pressure from Premier League trio Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney.
Castrol has applied the same expertise they apply to the development of their oils to create the Castrol Rankings – using objective analysis and highly advanced technology to measure every pass, every tackle and every single move of over 2,000 players and games from Europe’s top 5 leagues over the last 12 months.
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo had rounded off 2009 by climbing above Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry to finish the year as the top ranked player, but Barcelona rival Messi has responded in spectacular style, scoring six goals and delivering two assists in four La Liga games, including a hat-trick against Tenerife.
The Argentine, who heads the rankings for the first time, has been in inspiring form this season, capped by a brilliant performance against Sevilla when he scored twice, struck eight shots, and created five chances for teammates.
Messi is destined to be one of the stars of the coming 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and looks set to reach South Africa in good form having already contributed to 22 league goals – 15 goals, seven assists - for Barca this season. His shooting accuracy (70%) is the best in La Liga and he has successfully completed 163 dribbles in the league and Champions League over the last 12 months, more than any other player.
Castrol Ambassador and two-time Champions League winner Marcel Desailly said: “Even in a great Barcelona side Messi stands out and he is certain to have a major influence in South Africa. He is a player who likes to run with the ball and he has great balance and an electric change of pace that allows him to ease his way past players.”
“He is also extremely brave and possesses a great temperament. He may not be the biggest player but he never shirks a challenge or allows himself to be intimidated by an opponent. He just gets up and goes again and that presents a great challenge to defenders.”
“Messi and Ronaldo are both brilliant players and the outcome of the La Liga title race is likely to hinge on which player has the most influence during the remaining months of the season.”
Messi, Ronaldo and Henry have occupied the top three positions throughout the season but Liverpool’s Fernando Torres has broken up that group by nudging ahead of Barcelona striker Henry and into third place.
With Chelsea striker Didier Drogba moving up from 17 to 8 and Manchester United star Wayne Rooney reaching the top ten after rising 16 places from 25 to 9, the top of the Castrol Rankings are shaping up into an intriguing battle between the top players in La Liga and the Premier League.
Rooney is the biggest riser into the top ten and has hit a rich scoring vein this season at United following the departure of Ronaldo from Old Trafford.
His four-goal haul against Hull City was the Castrol EDGE Performance of the Month for January, and he matched Messi’s return of scoring six goals in four league games last month. In doing so, Rooney reached a century of Premier League goals with his strike against Arsenal.
Rooney has scored 25 goals in the Premier League in the last 12 months, more than any other player, and also had the most shots.
Bayern Munich’s Daniel van Buyten (7) is now the second ranked defender behind Barca’s Gerard Pique (5). The Belgium international is the top scoring defender in the Bundesliga over the last 12 months with seven goals and has helped Bayern Munich win nine consecutive games in the league and Champions League from November to January.
Manchester United’s Edwin van der Sar (13) leads the way for the goalkeepers and appears to be on course to become the first keeper to break into the top ten.
In Serie A, Luca Toni has found a new lease of life since joining AS Roma from Bayern Munich in early January. He dropped down the rankings in November and December. However, since returning to Italy, he has risen an impressive 141 places to 91, scoring two goals and winning a penalty from three starts before his injury against Juventus.
With the Champions League set to resume in February, the Castrol Rankings suggest Barcelona remain the team to beat with have 12 representatives in the top 100. They are followed by Chelsea with 10 and Bayern Munich (8).
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo had rounded off 2009 by climbing above Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry to finish the year as the top ranked player, but Barcelona rival Messi has responded in spectacular style, scoring six goals and delivering two assists in four La Liga games, including a hat-trick against Tenerife.
The Argentine, who heads the rankings for the first time, has been in inspiring form this season, capped by a brilliant performance against Sevilla when he scored twice, struck eight shots, and created five chances for teammates.
Messi is destined to be one of the stars of the coming 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and looks set to reach South Africa in good form having already contributed to 22 league goals – 15 goals, seven assists - for Barca this season. His shooting accuracy (70%) is the best in La Liga and he has successfully completed 163 dribbles in the league and Champions League over the last 12 months, more than any other player.
Castrol Ambassador and two-time Champions League winner Marcel Desailly said: “Even in a great Barcelona side Messi stands out and he is certain to have a major influence in South Africa. He is a player who likes to run with the ball and he has great balance and an electric change of pace that allows him to ease his way past players.”
Messi's shooting accuracy (70%) is the best in La Liga and he has successfully completed 163 dribbles in the league and Champions League over the last 12 months
“He is also extremely brave and possesses a great temperament. He may not be the biggest player but he never shirks a challenge or allows himself to be intimidated by an opponent. He just gets up and goes again and that presents a great challenge to defenders.”
“Messi and Ronaldo are both brilliant players and the outcome of the La Liga title race is likely to hinge on which player has the most influence during the remaining months of the season.”
Messi, Ronaldo and Henry have occupied the top three positions throughout the season but Liverpool’s Fernando Torres has broken up that group by nudging ahead of Barcelona striker Henry and into third place.
With Chelsea striker Didier Drogba moving up from 17 to 8 and Manchester United star Wayne Rooney reaching the top ten after rising 16 places from 25 to 9, the top of the Castrol Rankings are shaping up into an intriguing battle between the top players in La Liga and the Premier League.
Rooney is the biggest riser into the top ten and has hit a rich scoring vein this season at United following the departure of Ronaldo from Old Trafford.
His four-goal haul against Hull City was the Castrol EDGE Performance of the Month for January, and he matched Messi’s return of scoring six goals in four league games last month. In doing so, Rooney reached a century of Premier League goals with his strike against Arsenal.
Rooney has scored 25 goals in the Premier League in the last 12 months, more than any other player, and also had the most shots.
Bayern Munich’s Daniel van Buyten (7) is now the second ranked defender behind Barca’s Gerard Pique (5). The Belgium international is the top scoring defender in the Bundesliga over the last 12 months with seven goals and has helped Bayern Munich win nine consecutive games in the league and Champions League from November to January.
Manchester United’s Edwin van der Sar (13) leads the way for the goalkeepers and appears to be on course to become the first keeper to break into the top ten.
In Serie A, Luca Toni has found a new lease of life since joining AS Roma from Bayern Munich in early January. He dropped down the rankings in November and December. However, since returning to Italy, he has risen an impressive 141 places to 91, scoring two goals and winning a penalty from three starts before his injury against Juventus.
With the Champions League set to resume in February, the Castrol Rankings suggest Barcelona remain the team to beat with have 12 representatives in the top 100. They are followed by Chelsea with 10 and Bayern Munich (8).
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